ESOCS Devotional 10 September 2023 – Action Not Just Words
MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 NIV
TEXT: MATTHEW 7:15-END (KJV)
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
From time immemorial, one of the challenges bedeviling humanity have always been a breed of men who are filled and known with sweet utterances and sophisticated knowledge yet their lives do not depict what they proclaim. This has been a serious matter of concerns even amongst brethren.
It is not enough that a man knows the truth; the proof that a man knows a truth is that he lives by it and ALL the principles that governs his existence becomes based on that truth.
Jesus Christ in all his teachings to his apostles and the crowd, who always gather to listen to him emphasize on the importance of practising the things that are learnt through him.
There are people who talk about love yet when reality begin to unfold you find out that they are filled with passionate hatred beyond doubts.
There are people who talk and preach forgiveness yet when you relate with them you see the measure of bitterness and acrimony embedded in their hearts.
There are men who preach Jesus Christ and salvation yet the life of Christ do not find expression through them with all sincerity.
Acquisition of scriptural knowledge is very important, attending programs and fellowship meetings is very important, being available and sitting under the teachings of men and women of God is important too but knowledge alone and utterances do not define men, it is actions that does. What we do with what we know defines the accuracy of our relationship with God.
It is great wisdom to walk in the counsels of God, to eschew disobedience and hypocritical living and to depict all we have learnt at the feet of Christ.
- What are you doing with all you have known about God through the scriptures, and how much does it reflect in the life you lead?
- Oh Lord, help me not to just be a hearer of the word but a doer also.
FURTHER READING: Matthew 15:8; Titus 1:16; James 1:22
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ESOCS Devotional 10 September 2023
